Since the demise of KHHT 107.5 in 1997, Denver had been without a true CHR. As the popularity of the format began to grow, the demand for such a station to return to Denver began to grow. Meanwhile, KRKI in Estes Park had been granted a construction permit to upgrade its facilities and begin serving the Denver/Boulder market as a rimshot station. “102.1 K-Rocky” signed off in January of 2000. What followed in the next eight months was a waiting game. The station was often dark, but could sometimes be heard playing a test tape mixed with rock, alternative and country. Finally, on August 24th, 102.1 stopped stunting and signed on with a Top 40/Mainstream format as KXUU “U102, Denver’s Hit Music Station.”
Interestingly enough, the format only lasted about a week. Across town, Clear Channel flipped Smooth Jazz station 95.7 KHIH to its fast-growing Top 40/Mainstream format as KFMD “95-7 Kiss FM.” Because of the signal difference between 95.7 and 102.1, KXUU made a quick decision to tweak its format in a more Urban direction, keeping the “U102” moniker, but now using the slogan “Denver’s Beat.”
